Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka

Devanagari script

तारकान्नश्च यद्दुःखं संभूतं सकलेश्वर । तेन सर्वे वयं तात पीडिता विकला अति

Transliteration

tārakānnaśca yadduḥkhaṃ saṃbhūtaṃ sakaleśvara | tena sarve vayaṃ tāta pīḍitā vikalā ati

Translation

おおサカレーシュヴァラ（万有の主）よ、タ―ラカゆえに我らに生じた苦しみ――その苦しみにより、いと慕わしき御方よ、我らは皆ひどく責め苛まれ、まったく無力となりました。

Word by Word

• तारकात्: from Tāraka
• तारकात्: Apadana (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नः: to us/our
• नः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/to us)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), बहुवचन (Plural); enclitic

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण of दुःखम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सम्भूतम्: has arisen
• सम्भूतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/predicate adjective of दुःखम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-भू (धातु)
• Form: कृत (क्त) कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सकलेश्वर: O Lord of all
• सकलेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सकलस्य ईश्वरः)

• तेन: by that/therefore
• तेन: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण: by that, because of that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वे: all (of us)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तात: O dear one/father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पीडिताः: afflicted
• पीडिताः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/predicate adjective of वयम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीड् (धातु)
• Form: कृत (क्त) कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विकलाः: distressed/disabled
• विकलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण of वयम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अति: very
• अति: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: अतिशयार्थक अव्यय (intensifier: very/excessively)

Speaker

The Devas (gods), petitioning Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Tāraka

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse expresses śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): when beings are crushed by adharma (here, Tāraka’s oppression), they turn to Śiva as Sakaleśvara, the supreme Pati who alone can remove pīḍā (affliction) and restore dharma.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Addressing Shiva as “Sakaleśvara” reflects Saguna upāsanā—approaching the Lord with attributes as protector and ruler. In Shiva Purana practice, such surrender is commonly expressed through Linga-worship, offering prayers for the removal of बाधा (obstacles) and the reestablishment of cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is prayerful surrender: worship Shiva with the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids for steadiness, seeking relief from suffering and inner strength to endure adversity.